Stirrup-support.



H. l. STEVENSON, JR.

STIRRUP SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 19W.

Patented Aug, 7, 1917.

T PAT NT @FFTQE.

STIBRUP-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters TPatent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Application filed October 20, 1916. Serial No. 126,725.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY J. SmvnNsoN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Inmarovements in Stirrup-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety stirrups for riding saddles, and has for its principal object, the provision of means which will properly permit of an operative support of the stirrup strap under normal riding conditions and yet permit an immediate automatic release of the stirrup therefrom should the rider he accidentally thrown from the horse.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a bar which may be so applied to the saddle frame as not to destroy the desired grace and beauty of the saddle; a structure which will be strong and durable and capable of resisting considerable weight and strain, and means upon the bar for permitting the stirrup strap to be applied thereto in an expeditious manner.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a riding saddle showing the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the supporting bar for the stirrup strap.

Fig. 3 is a similar view thereof looking at the opposite side thereof.

Fig. A is a horizontal section through the supporting bar.

The riding saddle herein illustrated at A, is of the usual well-known construction and therefore, need not be referred to specifically. However, it is deemed desirable to mention that the said saddle is provided at its sides with portions 3 under which the invention to be described in the following, is adapted to be disposed and concealed so that the beauty of the saddle and its graceful design, will not in any way be destroyed by the application of the invention thereto.

At the opposite sides of the saddle are mounted stirrup hangers or supports 1 and as they are identical in construction with one another, it is believed that a description of one will suffice for the other. The hanger shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a bar having a substantially horizontal branch 2 and an angular branch 3, the former being offset at 4 and apertured at 5 so that it may be readily secured to the forward portion of the saddle frame by any suitable fastening means. The branch 3 is apertured at 6, whereby this portion of the bar may be secured to that portion of the saddle frame near the front of the saddle.

At a point midway between the offset 1 and the branch 2 of the bar is an integral circular boss or lug 7 which is adapted to freely pass into the correspondingly formed passage 8 in a strap attaching plate 9. This plate is provided with a passage 10 which is adapted to receive one end of the stirrup strap 11, the lower end of the latter being provided with a stirrup 12 of any approved well-known construction.

Located respectively at the opposite sides of the lug or boss 7 are pairs of lugs 1313 and as clearly illustrated in Fig. l, the bar 1 is slotted as at 14, between the spaced lugs 13-13 so as to receive the relatively large heads 15 of keeper plates 16, each having a curved surface or longitudinal convexity 18 and a relatively short flattened surface 19, the portion of said heads bearing said surfaces 18 and 19, being adapted to protrude to points beyond the back of the bar 1 where they may be successively brought to bear against the free ends of a stiff flat-leaf spring 20, the central portion of which is secured to the lug 7 by means of a rivet or other suitable fastening means 21. These keeper plates are pivoted at 22 between the mentioned lugs 13-13 so that the heads 15 thereof may be readily turned to the aforesaid positions and the portions 18 and 19 thereof effectually brought to bear against said free ends of the spring 20. The free ends of the spring 20 are designed to eX- tend partly into the slots 14 and in this manner the side walls of the slots, serve as guards to hold the terminals of said spring against shifting accidentally from their intended positions. hen the keeper plates 16 are in the normal positions shown in Fig. 2, the free ends of said plates come against the lug or boss 7. The plates are then disposed in parallel relation to the bar 1 so that the plate 9 can be properly accommodated in the space 23 between said plates 16 and bar 1, as will be seen.

It now follows that, as the plate 9 is confined upon the supporting bar 1 in the manner hereinbefore stated, it, under normal riding conditions, will be effectually held in an operative stirrup supporting position, but should any unusual or abnormal side pull be applied thereto, the plates 16 will be moved to the opened positions and immediately released from the saddle. In this manner, it is seen that should the rider be accidentally thrown from the saddle, there will not exist that possibility of his being dragged by the animal and unduly injured, as has found to be the case Where no means are provided for freeing th e foot of the rider from the saddle.

The device is Of a simple character; it is strong and durable in construction and capable of being attached to any well-known form of riding saddle and fully responsive to any'unusual forces which may be applied to the stirrup, and arranged so that the latter will be instantly freed from the saddle at the required time, while, when applied to the saddle, it will not detract from the desired ornamental and graceful appearance and design'thereof.

What is'claimed as new is:

1. A stirrup support for saddles comprising a lug fixed to the frame of the saddle, a pair of keeper plates pivoted uponthe saddle respectively at the opposite sides of the lug, the said lug removably receiving the stirrup strap thereon, and a means for yieldingl'y holding the plates against the lug to secure the strap in place thereon and operable to free the strap from the lug on the application of abnormal lateral pull againstsaid strap.

2. A stirrup support for saddles comprisarie at hi en ma be bta ed r fiv e t se y Washin 9-- ing a lug fixed to the frame of the saddle, a pair of keeper plates pivoted upon the saddle respectively at the opposite sides of the lug, the said lug removably receiving the stirrup strap thereon, a means for yieldingly holding the plates against the lug to secure the strap in place thereon and oper able to free the strap from the lug on the application of abnormal lateral pull against said strap, and an attaching bar formed with the lug and having attaching branches secured to the saddle frame.

3. A stirrup support for saddles comprising a lug fixed to the frame of the saddle, a pair of keeper plates pivoted upon the sad.- dle respectively at the opposite sides of the lug, the said lug removably receiving the stirrup strap thereon, a means for yieldingly holding the plates against the lug to secure the strap in place thereon and operable to free the strap from the lug on the application of abnormal lateral pull against said strap, an attaching bar formed with the lug and having attaching branches secured to the saddle frame, and a spring secured to the lug and normally lying against said bar and having free terminals bearing against said plates to hold the same respectively in different adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of a Witness.

HENRY J. STEVENSON, J 1:.

Witness:

AN A V. DOYLE.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

